Airplane-wing structure



Nov., 27, E928. 11,693,449

H. J. LE PUL.

AIRPLANE WING STRUCTURE A.. Sheets-Sheet Nom 27, E928. L693A-49 H. J. LE PUL v AIRPLANE WING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. l2, 1927 l 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 V100 ov BY @Fmg/,44,1

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AIRPLANE WING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. l2, 1927 la Sheets-Sheet H. J., LE PML AIRPLANE WING STRUCTURE mie@ Jan. 12, 19g?" BY ATTORNEY meets-sheet Patented Nov.. 27, '1928.

HENRY JOSEPH LE PUL, OF HEMPSTEAD, iYORK.

. AIRPLANE-WING STRUCTURE.

p' Application led January 12, 1927. Serial No. 160,676.

This invention relates to an improved Wing structure for airplanes and has for an object to provide a construction wherein the different parts are made of dierent weights and Strengths to take care of the different loads.

Another object of the invention is to provide an airplane wing made up of independent sections with means for connecting the 10 sections together in such a manner as to'present a substantially 'integral structure.

An additionalv object of the invention is to p bracing web 8. This structure as shown in provide in an airplane. wing a pluralityof independent covering .sheets Iarranged with thethickest sheetsv at the point of greatest l' strain and the thinnest at thepoint of least lstrain. f y Ajstill'further object of the invention -is tov provide an airplane wing structure` wherein a series of longitudinal. braces are provided with diagonally `arranged bracingv members madeseparate or integral with the longitu-I dinal braces. l

In the accompanyingdrawings- I plane Wing disclosing an-embodiment 'of the invention. y f t Figure 2 is an edge view of one of the sections of the wing shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of a'bracing web used between two sections of the wing as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional View through Figure 1, approximatelyl on line 4 4.

6, approximately on line 5 5.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragment-ary transverse sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on line 66 and also through 4o Figure 5 on line 6-6.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through Figure 1, approximately on line 'ZL-7.

Figure 8 is lan enlarged sectional view through Figure 6 on line 8 8.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a pair of bracing members similar to that illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 10 isa perspective view of a slightly 5o modified form of the invention to that illustrated in Figure 7 Referring to the accompanying ,drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a complete wing section and 2 a similar wing'section connected by bolts or rivets to the section 1. The sections 1 and 2 are of. identicalconstruction Figure 1 is a plan view of part of an air! Figure' is a sectional view through Figure wing structure are of the same structure. lt

will, therefore, b'e noted that a Wing of any length may be made merely by adding more or less of the sections l'or 2. As indicated in Figure 7 the upper plates 3 'of the variousv sections are turned up for forming upstanding flanges 4 and 5 and these flanges are straddled by a -member v6 substantially U-shapcd in cross section. 'A number of rivets 7 extend through the U-shaped member 6, through the ianges 4 and 5 and through a Figure 7, fastens the sections together so that they are substantially one piece. Under some circumstances, instead of having the flanges 4 and 5 turnedupwardly, they may be turned downwardly as shown in Figure 10.v 1n this4 form of the invention; the'iianges 4 and 5" are turned downwardly and preferably contact with the edge of the stidening' web 8. Theanglebars 9 and lQ-connected with the plates 3 are connected to the flanges 4 and 5' by suitable rivets 11, these angle bars being in turn connected to the plates 3 by suitable rivets 12. The webs 8' and 8 are constructed as shown in Figure 3 and fit iiatwise against the end of the respective sections 1 and 2 so as to provide an eXtra bracing structure at this point. lit is, of course, evident that this web could be eliminated if desired but ordinarily it is used as the additional weight is small and the bracing power is great. llt will bc noted that this Web is provided with an upper run or section 18 merging at the ends `into'a lower run-or`section 14'and these sections are connected with a number; of verti'- cal struts 15, the struts 15 and sections 13 and 14 being formed inte ral and from a single plate of material, as or instance, aluminum.

The entire wing structure 1 is 'made of metal 'and may be made of duraluminum or other metal as preferred. 1n forming each section there is provided an end plate 16 at each end of each section, each of the end plates having an inturned flange 17 (Figure 7) said inturned'lange being secured to the -plate 3 by rivets 18. Each of the plates 16 is provided with a vertical or upstanding connecting strut 19 preferably considerably wider than the ,struts15 of the web 8. A bracing structure 20 is provided for each pair of struts 19. Each of the bracing structures 20 is preferably formed of two members 21 and 22, each member being preferably made of a single plate cut out ofa single sheet of metal and then riveted together by 'suitable rivets A23.

In cutting out the members 21 and22, there is` a diagonal brace structure 24 provided, saidl brace structure'having asemiFtubular por'- tion 25 and Webs 26 and 27, said Webs accommodating'the rivets 28 and 29. At the top andbottom of the members v2l and 22 are ar# ranged ianges 30 and 31, one ofsaid-langes 'being riveted to the plates 3 by the rivets 32.

At each end'of each of the'bracing members l' a special vertical brace 33 is provided.

' As all of these'braces are identical, the description of one will apply to all.

,As indicated in Fi .ures 6-and 7, the( brace structure'33 is provi ed with a partly tubular section 34`merging into flanges 35 and 36 and' a similar partly tubular section37 merging linto angesv-BS and 39. Rivets 40 are provided for connecting the flanges 35 and 38 together and to the'vertical end portions of 'members 21 and22.l The Hanges 36 and 39- respectively, are connected by rivets 41 and 42 respectively tothe endI plate '16. It will.

be noted that the vertical' struts l5 of web 8 are suiiiciently narrow to fit in between'the rivets 41 and 42 as indicated in Figure 8 and by the dottedlines43 in Figure 2.-l .This will a low the, parts to fit atwise together and allow a better T'bracing action. IFrom -Figure l'it will be noted that a number-of plates 3 are provided and riveted to the various brac.-

ing members'20. By reason of this construetion the frontand rear plates 3 may be comparatively thinwhile the center plates are comparatively ,thick and""`strong, thus -pro` viding greater strength yWhere' the` greater strain occurs. Instead of; using lrivet/s for connecting the sections to etherv as shown in or inaryrivets are preferable as they are not so liable to become loose, z

Various'. sliglitz': changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arg.,

rangement of the parts described without departingv lfrom the spirit-.of the invention,

sections, each of said sections comprising an outer' covering structure, endl plates and a plurality of interior braces, each of the intenior braces inoludinga pair of identically i formed bracing members, means for securing said members together, each of said membersv presenting a rectangular frame having a flange at the top and bottom, anda diagonal bracing vweb formed with a pressed out stiiening member.

cov

2. lIn an airplanev wing structure an interior-.brace including va substantially rectangular body,` and vertical end members,"

said vertical end members' presenting-a substantiallv semi-tubular structure with lat-v erally extending iianges.

1 3. In anairplane Wing, an interior-brace including a substantially rectangular structure provided with an integral diagonal brace, integral top and bottomiianges, and

stifening meansat each end, each of 'said stiffening means .being formed -as a half tubeV4 with laterally extending ange's 4. An airplane wing, comprising a metallic wing structure formed of a plurality of independent sections, each section having longitudinally extend-ing substantially rectangular braces,a .stiifening web arrangedbetween each section of a height substantially l equal to the distance from the top to the bottom ofthe sections,-c1amping means extending longitudinally of the wing for connect- 'ing the sections together, and tubular stiening means arranged at each end of said braces for stiffening the wing at theline of connection of the respective sections;

j y HENRY JOSEPH LE PUL. 

